Organization vs. Murphy's Law

Have you noticed that organization takes planning?  

That may sound obvious at first, but have you really thought about it?  To organize something well, it takes thought, effort, and a vision of what you want it to become.  (I can see my beautifully decorated dream home on the waterfront now, with no clutter and endless space for all of my projects laying around.)

But, sometimes real life takes over and you're just trying to keep juggling all the balls in the air and not drop one.  What happens to your best planning and organizational efforts when Murphy's Law takes over?
 

If you're lucky, the plans you've already put into place will hold a little longer until you are better able to manage them.  But, sometimes all the planning goes down the tubes and you're left back at the starting line.  When this happens, don't give up!  Give yourself some credit for planning (remember, some people don't get this far!) and think of it as an opportunity to be even better the second time (or third, or fourth, or. . . .). 

Some things that help out, even when Murphy's Law is threatening:

• Flexibility- Sometimes organization requires absolute numbers & exact dimensions for spaces.  But, it also requires flexibility.  When things aren't going as planned, take a deep breath and be prepared to re-organize your plan into Plan B.  Get ready to think differently and rearrange so that your new plan fits you and your needs more completely.  This could mean that your custom built storage cabinet wasn't built to the correct specifications or your whole family has come down with the flu.  Whatever the challenge, take it all in and make the best out of it.
  
• One Piece at a Time- When chaos ensues, it's really difficult to see every piece of the puzzle at once.  Focus on a small portion.  Create your plan (as best as you can), and then move on to the next piece.  When my schedule has become incredibly jam-packed, I've been known to make a new schedule, down to the hour, to keep it all straight.  It sounds crazy, but so is Murphy's Law. 
  
• Meal Plans- Thinking ahead (with your calendar) is one of the best ways to beat Murphy at his own game.  If you can plan ahead for meals, you're really doing several things at once- figuring out what the meal will be (before dinner time!), how much time you'll actually have to prepare it, and grocery shopping.  Even if you don't stick to the original plan exactly, you'll be better prepared to swap nights for when a faster meal is more needed and still have everything on hand, hopefully :) 
• Ask for Help- Don't be afraid to ask for help when you really need it.  It could be an expert in woodworking to help with your not-so-correct custom built storage cabinet or a friend to lend a listening ear and advice.  Whatever the case, if you need help, ask and you shall receive.
  

 Hang in there!  Murphy's Law can be a tough to work with.  But, flexibility, focusing on one piece at a time, making meal plans, and asking for help will make things easier.  Soon, you'll be back on track, stronger than ever, and even better at Getting it All Together.